Why Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam’s Lantau land reclamation plan is so controversial
Summary
TLDRHong Kong's Chief Executive, Carrie Lam, has proposed a 1700-hectare reclamation project called Lantau Tomorrow Vision to increase land supply, aiming to provide up to 400,000 flats, mostly affordable public housing. The project, estimated to cost 500 billion Hong Kong dollars, is expected to accommodate 1.1 million people and create 340,000 jobs over the next 20-30 years. Despite public backlash and environmental concerns, Lam remains committed to the initiative.
Takeaways
- 🏙️ Home ownership in Hong Kong is extremely challenging due to high costs.
- 💼 Hong Kong's Chief Executive, Carrie Lam, has proposed a large-scale reclamation project.
- 🌊 The project, known as Lantau Tomorrow Vision, aims to reclaim 1700 hectares east of Hong Kong island.
- 🏡 It plans to provide up to 400,000 flats, with 70% designated as affordable public housing.
- 👥 The project could accommodate 1.1 million people and create 340,000 jobs over the next 20-30 years.
- ✈️ The reclaimed land would be strategically located near the Hong Kong International Airport and the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau bridge.
- 💵 The government estimates the project will cost 500 billion Hong Kong dollars, approximately half of the city's fiscal reserves.
- 🤔 There is public backlash against the project, with critics arguing it is too expensive.
- 🌱 Environmental groups, including Greenpeace, oppose the plan due to potential irreversible damage to marine life and the natural environment.
- 🏕️ Alternatives such as developing brownfield sites in Hong Kong's new territories have been suggested, which could have less environmental impact.
- 🚀 Despite criticism, Carrie Lam remains determined to proceed with the reclamation project.
Q & A
How long would it take an average Hong Konger to pay for a flat with their entire salary?
-An average Hong Konger would have to hand over their entire salary for 20 years to pay for a flat.
What is the name of the initiative proposed by Hong Kong's Chief Executive Carrie Lam to increase land supply?
-The initiative proposed is a 1700 hectare reclamation project east of Hong Kong's biggest island, named Lantau.
How many flats could the reclaimed area potentially provide?
-The reclaimed area could provide up to 400,000 flats.
What percentage of the flats would be designated as affordable public housing?
-70% of the flats would be affordable public housing.
How many people could the reclaimed land potentially accommodate?
-The reclaimed land could accommodate up to 1.1 million people.
How many jobs is the project expected to create in the next 20 to 30 years?
-The project is expected to create 340,000 jobs in the next 20 to 30 years.
Where would the reclaimed land be located in relation to the Hong Kong International Airport?
-The reclaimed land would neighbor the Hong Kong International Airport.
What is the estimated cost of the reclamation project?
-The government estimates the project will cost five hundred billion Hong Kong dollars or 64 billion U.S. dollars.
What percentage of the city's fiscal reserves does the project cost represent?
-The project cost is about half of the city's fiscal reserves.
What are the main criticisms against the reclamation project?
-The main criticisms are that the reclamation project is too expensive and that it will cause irreversible damage to the marine and natural environment.
What alternatives for land supply have been suggested instead of reclamation?
-The alternatives suggested include developing brownfield sites in Hong Kong's new territories, which are currently used as port backup lands or recycling yards.
How does Carrie Lam respond to the criticism that the project is too expensive?
-Carrie Lam refutes the criticism by stating that it's important to avoid doing things just because they are expensive.
Outlines
🏙️ Hong Kong's Housing Crisis and Land Reclamation Plan
Hong Kong faces a severe housing crisis, with the average citizen needing to dedicate 20 years of their entire salary to afford a flat. In response, Chief Executive Carrie Lam proposed a land reclamation project in her 2018 policy address. The project, named Lantau Tomorrow Vision, aims to reclaim 1700 hectares east of Lantau Island to provide up to 400,000 flats, with 70% designated as affordable public housing. This initiative could accommodate 1.1 million people, create 340,000 jobs, and is strategically positioned near the Hong Kong International Airport and the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge to interact with the Greater Bay Area cities. The estimated cost is a staggering 500 billion Hong Kong dollars, which is about half of the city's fiscal reserves.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Home Ownership
💡Hong Kong Chief Executive
💡Land Supply
💡Reclamation Project
💡Lantau
💡Hong Kong International Airport
💡Hong Kong Zhuhai Macau Bridge
💡Public Housing
💡Fiscal Reserves
💡Public Backlash
💡Environmental Groups
💡Brownfield Sites
Highlights
Owning a home in Hong Kong is extremely difficult due to high prices.
Average Hong Konger must dedicate 20 years of salary to afford a flat.
Hong Kong's Chief Executive Carrie Lam proposes a plan to increase land supply.
A 1700-hectare reclamation project called 'Lantau Tomorrow Vision' is introduced.
The project could provide up to 400,000 flats, with 70% being affordable public housing.
The reclaimed land would accommodate up to 1.1 million people.
The project is expected to create 340,000 jobs over the next 20 to 30 years.
The reclaimed land would be located near the Hong Kong International Airport.
Lantau is strategically positioned to interact with the Greater Bay Area cities.
The government estimates the project will cost 500 billion Hong Kong dollars.
The cost is about half of Hong Kong's fiscal reserves.
The initiative faces public backlash due to its high cost.
Carrie Lam refutes the criticism, stating that cost should not be a deterrent.
Carrie Lam is accused of ignoring public opinion on the reclamation project.
At least nine environmental groups, including Greenpeace, oppose the plan.
Critics argue the project will cause irreversible damage to the marine environment.
Alternatives for land supply, such as brownfield sites, are suggested.
Carrie Lam remains determined to proceed with the project despite criticism.
The Chief Executive is confident that any problem can be solved.
Transcripts
[Music]
it's not easy owning a home in Hong Kong
a recent study found that the average
Hong Konger would have to hand over
their entire salary for 20 years to pay
for a flat this has made home ownership
an impossible dream for many in the city
but Hong Kong's chief executive Carrie
Lam has proposed a plan to increase land
supply in her 2018 policy address Lam
introduced a new initiative a 1700
hectare reclamation project east of Hong
Kong's biggest island land town the
reclaimed area could provide up to
400,000 flats with 70% being affordable
public housing it would accommodate up
to 1.1 million people and create 340
thousand jobs in the next 20 to 30 years
the reclaimed land would neighbor the
Hong Kong International Airport in the
Hong Kong zhuhai Macau bridge Lam said
Lantau is strategically located to
interact with the greater Bay Area
cities so how much is the project the
government estimates it will cost five
hundred billion Hong Kong dollars or 64
billion u.s. dollars which is about half
of the city's fiscal reserves and the
initiative faces public backlash
some say the reclamation project is too
expensive a criticism Lam refutes it
it's really in my view are quite a
reminder to try to avoid doing things
because it is expensive Lam is also
accused of ignoring public opinion the
government appointed Task Force on land
supplies spent five months running a
public consultation with a report to be
released by the end of 2018 Lam is
blamed to have preempted the task
force's work at least nine environmental
groups including Greenpeace and the
World Wildlife Fund oppose the plan
saying it will cause irreversible damage
in the Marine
and natural environment some argue that
there are alternatives for land supply
in August the task force estimated that
there were 1,300 hectares of brownfield
sites in Hong Kong's new territories
these sites are currently used as port
backup lands or recycling yards and
developing them would have less impact
on the environment than reclamation but
Carrie Lam seems determined to press
ahead with the project despite criticism
the chief executive is confident that
any problem can be solved
[Music]
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